• One of the most uncompromising sports cars ever built
• Delivered new via Crepaldi/Milan
• Full service history
• Ferrari Classiche certification granted
• Original service book, manuals and leather wallet

Introduced in 1988 to celebrate Enzo Ferrari's 40 years as a motor manufacturer, the legendary F40 was the ultimate supercar and is historically significant as the last model conceived and introduced before Il Commendatore's death. A mid-engined, two-seater berlinetta, the F40 was a development of the 288 GTO Evoluzione, and like the latter - but unlike the preceding 308 series - mounted its power unit longitudinally rather than transversely. The Evoluzione version of the 288 GTO had been intended for Group B racing, only to be rendered obsolete when the formula was cancelled. Nevertheless, it did bequeath its tubular steel space-frame chassis to the F40, suitably strengthened with bonded-in composite elements.

The F40's power unit too, was a development of the 288 GTO's: slightly enlarged from 2,855cc to 2,936cc and incorporating up-rated internals and a state-of-the-art Weber/Marelli engine management system. A four-cam 3-litre V8 with four valves per cylinder, the F40 engine employed twin IHI turbochargers to liberate 478bhp (approximately 352kW) at 7,000rpm. For the seriously speed-addicted, this could be boosted by 200bhp by means of a factory tuning kit. Power reached the ground via a five-speed transaxle.

Of equal, if not greater, technical interest than this stupendous engine was the method of body/chassis construction, the F40 drawing on Ferrari's Formula 1 experience in its use of composite technology. Thus the chassis had a bonded-in mix of Kevlar, carbon fibre and glassfibre panels. A one-piece plastic moulding, the body was bonded to the tubular steel chassis to create a lightweight structure of immense rigidity. The doors, bonnet, boot lid and other removable panels were carbon fibre. Compared with rest of the car, the F40's suspension was entirely conventional, consisting of unequal-length wishbones and coil spring dampers all round, with anti-roll bars at both ends.

Pugnaciously styled by Pininfarina's Leonardo Fioravanti, the man responsible for the 365 GTB/4 'Daytona', the F40 incorporated the latest aerodynamic aids in the form of a dam-shaped nose and high rear aerofoil. Despite the need to generate considerable downforce - and with a top speed higher than the take-off speed of many light aircraft, the F40 needed all the downforce it could get - the result was a commendably low drag coefficient of just 0.34. The F40's interior re-enforced its image as a thinly disguised race-car, with body-contoured seats, an absence of carpeting and trim, and sliding Plexiglas windows. Performance was breathtaking, with a 0-200km/h (0-124mph) time of 12 seconds and a top speed of 323km/h (201mph) it comfortably eclipsed both Porsche's 959 and Lamborghini's Countach. And when it came to actual competition, race-prepared F40s more than held their own, and in the Global GT series proved quicker on many circuits than McLaren's F1 GTR.

Initially Ferrari announced that they would build 400 F40s, only to be overwhelmed by the response from would-be purchasers numbered in the thousands. The production run was upped to 950 but Ferrari would end up producing 1,315 examples. Even then demand continued to exceed supply, with speculation the inevitable result.

Autocar found the experience of driving the F40 somewhat overwhelming: "The take-up into the next gear is flawless and, with the turbos cranking hard, the blast of acceleration just goes on again and you seem to be in a blur of time conquering distance, gearshifts and noise. It has the tonal quality of an F1 engine, if not the sheer ferocity. From outside, if you stand and listen, you hear the frantic whoosh as the turbos start to drive oh-so-hard."

Autocar concluded its test thus: "on a smooth road it is a scintillatingly fast car that is docile and charming in its nature; a car that is demanding but not difficult to drive, blessed as it is with massive grip and, even more importantly, superb balance and manners. You can use its performance - the closest any production carmaker has yet come to race car levels - and revel in it. ...there's little doubt it is the very personification of the term sports car."

Even decades later the F40 still had the power to impress. Reacquainting himself with the F40, F50 and Enzo Ferraris for Octane magazine (July 2014 edition) racing driver Mark Hales declared: "The F40 is for me, the special one. Not just because I have spent so much time in them, but because it was such an explosive, other-worldly creation when it first appeared, and it still retains much of that character." Enough said.

A rare variant with catalytic converters and adjustable suspension, chassis number '90667' was delivered new via the famous Milan-based concessionaire Crepaldi Auto to a resident of Jersey in the Channel Islands, and subsequently sold to a resident of Tokyo, who would keep the car for more than 20 years.

Reading the original service book shows that the car has been looked after very carefully throughout. Recorded services include the following:

29th June 1992, 5,000km service carried out by Crepaldi
14th July 1997 at 10,150km, service at official Ferrari Service Grand Prix Service
11 th April 2001 at 11,995km, service at Auto Becker in Düsseldorf included new timing belts
28th September 2015 at 18,289km, service by Cornes Ltd in Japan
5th July 2018 at 18,369 km, service by Cornes Ltd

The last service was carried out under instructions from our vendor by Ferrari concessionaire Autohaus Blöchl in Osterhofen, Bavaria on 16th October 2024 at 18,867km, and included new timing belts. At time of cataloguing the odometer reading was 18,933km.

Listed below are numerous other invoices from Cornes Ltd in Japan covering the period 11th June 2001 to 30th September 2022. A translation of these invoices ( 44 pages, perusal recommended) reveals careful servicing and upkeep of the car while in Japan, always with the same owner.

11/06/2001 at 12,035km
04/07/2001 at 12,146km
17/07/2001 (mileage not indicated)
13/07/2002 at 13,150km
30/07/2002 (mileage not indicated)
18/03/2003 at 14,267km
13/11/2003 at 15,615km
24/04/2005 at 16,036km including new timing belts
20/07/2006 at 16,356km
28/08/2006 (no mileage indicated), including new timing belts and front and rear suspension forks
09/04/2007 at 16,484km
13/11/2007 at 17,129km
01/07/2008 at 17,335km
23/06/2009 at 17,449km
28/06/2010 at 17,655 km
09/09/2011 at 17,795km – including new timing belts
24/10/2015 at 18,231km – including new timing belts
16/09/2016 at 18,289km - including new timing belts
11/07/2020 at 18,510 km – including new timing belts
30/12/2020 (no mileage indicated) – fitting of new petrol tanks
15/08/2022 at 18,650km

Importantly, the fuel tanks were replaced at the end of 2020 and there are also pictures on file of new suspension parts being fitted in Japan. With such great care lavished upon the car throughout its life, it is no surprise that it presents beautifully today.

The F40 is currently undergoing the all-important Ferrari Classiche Certification – it now appears on the Ferrari system as certified and the famous Red Book will be sent on to the new owner.

This exceptional F40 is offered with its original service book, instruction manual and dealer network booklet in their original leather pouch; copies of the aforementioned invoices; confirmation from Ferrari that the certification and Red Book will be forthcoming; and a copy of the Japanese registration and new German registration documents.

With original Italian delivery, comprehensive service history and fastidious long-term ownership from 2001 to 2022 with invoices to prove and the important Ferrari Classiche certification, what more could one wish for?

Please note this lot will be subject to additional VAT on the hammer price and buyer's premium

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